The national agriculture and food employers and trade union federations say the rise in fuel prices will inevitably lead to increases in the prices of national goods and services, mainly in the agrifood sector, and this will reduce the competitiveness of the Moldovan producers on the domestic market of the Republic of Moldova. Concomitantly, this will cause a dramatic decline in the living standards of the population. In a statement, the federations demand to restore the normal situation on the domestic fuel market by capping fuel prices or they will resort to protests, IPN reports.

“Even if the price of a barrel of crude oil on international stock exchanges remained US$ 68, the price of gasoline during the past six months rose by 33%, but the National Agency for Energy Regulation and the Competition Council didn’t react appropriately, making only accusations against each other. The main cause indicated by them is the fluctuations on the international market and the rise in excise duties (by 9%). Therefore, we seek efficient solutions for farmers: concessions and exemptions from taxes during the agricultural works,” runs the statement.

The signatories, the National Agriculture and Food Industry Employers Federation and the National Federation of Trade Unions of Workers of Agriculture and Food “Agroindsind”, demand that the Competition Council during ten days should publish the secret report presented to the Parliament’s commission on economy, budget and finance that could prove or refute the existence of cartel agreements between oil companies, and to impose penalties if it is necessary.

Otherwise, the federations reserve the right to picket the buildings of the National Agency for Energy Regulation and the Competition Council and to demand to dismiss their managers. They also ask the National Trade Union Confederation of Moldova, the National Employers Confederation and civil society to support this initiative.